The Memphis Grizzlies only have three players who have been enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Pau Gasol, Allen Iverson, and Vince Carter. Among that trio, only Gasol was with the Grizzlies for more than three seasons. However, Gasol —unlike his younger brother —is most often remembered for his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.
As far as the Memphis Sports Hall of Fame goes, there’s only one player who has been inducted: former NBA power forward Zach Randolph.
Grizzlies’ Zach Randolph Inducted Into Hall Of Fame
On Wednesday, the Memphis Sports Hall of Fame officially received the honor after being selected last season. The other members of the Grizzlies’ ‘Grit ‘n Grind’ core —Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen —are expected to eventually be inducted as well.
Expressing his feelings about the special moment, Randolph says: “Man, it’s a great honor. I’m grateful. I love this city.”
“I love this community, I love the people here. This is home for me.” (h/t DaMichael Cole of Memphis Commercial Appeal)
Allen, commonly referred to as The Grindfather during his time with the organization, was in attendance for Randolph’s ceremony.
Tony Allen looks like a proud brother. He said he’s going to put this on his Tik Tok. Here is Zach Randolph talking with media before being inducted in the Memphis Sports Hall of Fame
Photo: @cjday1900 pic.twitter.com/sQnlNfXO8q
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) October 17, 2024
Gasol may be on deck for a Memphis Sports Hall of Fame enshrinement. Just last season, he was honored with a jersey retirement. However, the fanfare surrounding Allen’s induction may be more intense than any of his former teammates. His defensive acumen was key for the Grizzlies, but his mentality embodied their culture.
How Z-Bo Got Here
In 2001, Randolph was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers after helping Michigan State reach the Final Four. His rambunctiousness was well-known early on. However, he was a tough and skilled big man whose talents couldn’t be denied. In just his third season, he averaged 20.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, subsequently winning the Most Improved Player Award.
Yet, for all his individual success, the Blazers were unable to reach the playoffs after that. So, in the 2007 offseason, they traded him to the New York Knicks. After going 23-59 in 2007-08, the Knicks sent him to the Los Angeles Clippers the following offseason. The Clippers had even less success, going 19-63 in 2008-09.
As L.A. tinkered with their roster, the decision was made to trade him to the Grizzlies. He promptly led a top-10 offense to a 40-42 record after they went 24-58 in 2008-09. After earning his first All-Star selection in 2010, it was clear that Randolph had found a home and Memphis a go-to player.
Over the next seven seasons, the Grizzlies were able to reach the playoffs every year. Though they were never able to make it past the Western Conference Finals, it remains the franchise’s longest streak of playoff appearances. As a result, after being miscast as a player who didn’t contribute to winning, he became one of the faces of a perennial contender.
